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What We Believe
We believe the Bible,
composed of the canonized sixty-six books of the Old and New
Testaments, to be the inspired (God-breathed) Word of God (2
Timothy 3:16). It is the final authority for all matters of faith
and practice. In other words, it is the revealed will of God
concerning what Christians (and all people) should believe and how they should
live. The Bible is our ultimate statement of faith.
Statements of faith
can be both divisive and misleading, since they are all composed
by imperfect human beings. Therefore, we assert the following:
• In essential beliefs
- we have unity........(Ephesians
4:4-6)
• In nonessential beliefs-we have liberty..(Romans
14:1,4,12,22)
• In all our beliefs-we exhibit charity.... (I
Corinthians 13:2; Ephesians 4:15)
Although we prefer the
Bible to speak for itself, for the purpose of understanding the
basic doctrinal positions of East Valley Foursquare
Church, the following is presented.
What We Believe About
GOD
There is only one, true God, eternally existing in three distinct
personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These
three are one God, having the same nature, attributes, and
perfections, and are therefore worthy of the same worship and
obedience. God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Ruler of the
universe yet He desires a personal relationship with every man,
woman and child.
Supporting Scriptures:
Genesis 1:1,26-27; Deuteronomy 6:4; John 3:16; 1Timothy 2:5; Psalm
90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1Peter 1:2; 2Corinthians 13:14
What
We Believe About JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, meaning He is co-equal with the
Father. He is the expressed image of the invisible God and Creator
of all things. He became a human being, born of the virgin Mary,
and lived a sinless and empowered life. Consequently, Jesus showed
mankind how to live empowered by the Holy Spirit and demonstrated
kingdom authority over the works of the Devil. Jesus offered
Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all people by
dying on a cross, and rose bodily from the dead after three days,
demonstrating His victory over sin and death. He ascended to
heaven, is seated in authority, and will return again to earth to
reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Supporting Scriptures:
John 1:1-5,14; 5:18; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15;
Philippians 2:5-11; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:22-23; Mark 1; 1
Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:9-10
What We Believe About THE HOLY
SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is
present in the world to convict people of their sin and make them
aware of their need for the Savior-Jesus Christ. People are
regenerated (born again) by the Holy Spirit, and He lives in
believers to manifest the character of Christ. The Holy Spirit
provides believers with power; Holy Spirit provided power for
holy living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance for
life. He also endues Christians with spiritual gifts of power, so
they might serve the church and the world in a manner that
surpasses their own natural abilities and limitations. The
victorious Christian life must be daily lived under the power and
presence of the Holy Spirit.
Supporting Scriptures:
Genesis 1:2; John 14:16-17; 16:7-13; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4;
1Corinthians 2:10-14; 12:3-11; 14; 2Corinthians 3:17-18; Galatians
5:22-25; Ephesians 1:13; 5:18 ; Jude 20
What We Believe About
PEOPLE
People are created in the image of God, and are designed to reflect
His character, and walk in His presence. People are the
supreme object of God's creation and love. Through willful
transgression and disobedience, people have fallen from their
originally created state of righteousness, peace, and joy into a
state of separation from God. Being separated from the
source of life, love, and joy has resulted in bondage and death.
People are unable to deliver or save themselves from their sinful
condition, but are totally dependent upon the power of God as
presented in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Supporting Scriptures:
Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; 59:1-2; Romans
3:23; 5:12-21
What We Believe About HEAVEN AND
HELL
God created people to exist forever. We will either exist eternally
separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through
forgiveness and salvation. Eternal separation from God will result
in living in Hell. Eternal fellowship and union with God is
eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal
existence.
Supporting Scriptures:
John 3:16; Matthew 25:31-46; 19:29; Mark 9:42-48;
2Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:11-15
What We Believe About
SALVATION
Because people are unable to save themselves from their sinful
condition, salvation is altogether the work of God. Neither good
works nor self-improvement can make up for our sin. Salvation is
the free gift of God. However, like any gift it must be received.
This gift is received by faith, or by believing and trusting in
Jesus Christ who died as our substitute that we might live.
Through repentance from sin and faith toward God, we turn from our
self-ruled life to trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Supporting Scriptures:
John 1:12; 14:6; Romans 5:6-21; 6:23; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians
2:8-9; Titus 3:5
What We Believe About THE CHURCH
The church is composed of all who have experienced, through faith
in Christ, the new birth into the family of God. All true
believers are members of the universal church, the body of Christ,
and are exhorted by the Lord to be Holy Spirit empowered to do the
work of the ministry. Since the New Testament encourages
believers to gather for worship, prayer, fellowship, sharing the
Lord's Supper, teaching of the Word, ministry to fellow
Christians, and evangelism, the local church is an indispensable
part of God's plan for His people and the world. The work of
parachurch groups is appreciated, but the local church is God's
chosen instrument for both the nurture of Christians and world
evangelism. We believe all true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ
should walk in spiritual unity of cooperating with one another for
the cause of evangelism and advancement of the kingdom of God.
Supporting Scriptures:
Matthew 16:16-18; Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians
1:22-23; 4:4-6; 9-16
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